Real Estate Requires Real Faith: Writing in the Wait

Real Estate Requires Real Faith

Again and again the real estate lender assured us she could pull things together and day after day we didn’t close and didn’t close. One week past close of escrow and I still felt optimistic. When it carried on into week two my heart sank and my perspective shifted. Anxiety and confusion mixed and my faith felt strained.

Near the finish line the buyer of our rental property couldn’t get the funding. We reminded ourselves the terms of the purchase of sale wasn’t ironclad, but we also reminded ourselves it was the only offer we received. We knew that going in, but now, because we based the purchase of our property solely on the sale of the rental, we needed it to close.

Warning: Optimism Can Cause Blindness

Sometimes, as a naturally optimistic person I find myself feeling irresponsible for not entertaining less desirable outcomes. This was one of those times. In good faith the property owner of our future home there decided to take a staycation at the local casino. Her bill accrued every night. The domino affect of transactions began to tip. I grew nauseous and my faith wilted.

Despite my feelings we reassured our agent we would close on the property, because we knew it should. I don’t like games, secrets or shenanigans and I keep my cards on the table, but this time, I wore a poker face.

A Week Early

Out of the blue the home we lived in closed escrow a week early, but our loan and the offer we presented, was based on the sale of the rental property. However, the close of our primary residence didn’t affect our purchase, though it did close a door and offer a level of peace of mind.

Trust Easily, but Not Fully

Still solo parenting and frayed to the core I made my way into town with the kids hoping to make further progress preparing my classroom. Already my principal heaped kindness and warmth onto our family. Conversations seemed candid, legitimately honest. Coming from land of empty words and token gestures He caught me off guard when he clearly meant what he said. However, this was my boss, my supervisor. In these vulnerable circumstances I felt equally pulled to gloss over the current dicy events and to be completely honest as I had been to that point.

While working in my classroom that week my kids and I interacted with my principal. Occasionally he popped into my classroom to ask if I needed anything for the classroom I wore my bravest smile ever and hoped even I would believe it.

Then I got the call.

The Call & The Breakdown

“You might have to come back to California to wrap up loose ends with our real estate transactions.” I didn’t even have words for this and as the call ended in walked my principal with his kind smile and hospitable words I’d heard before, “How are you doing? Is there anything you need?”

Oh I tried to find my smile, but I found only a fractured portion and it showed. The pressures closed in and my roles of get-along-girl (a role that broke me shortly into the school year), single mom supporting her husband, and faithful follower collided.nTears pushed to escape but my determination to don a semblance of strength and dignity won and I contained myself from breaking down. “I’m good, but I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

Truth Cannot Hide

“You don’t seem like yourself. Are you sure everything is okay?” the sincerity again caught me off guard. It’s not that people in California are terrible, and my relationships with past principals and bosses were good, but it takes so long to reach a point of sincerity and yet it already felt like my boss sincerely cared about the well-being of my family as much as he cared about having a good teacher on staff.

Sincerity is Truth Serum

“Things aren’t going well and I may need to return to California to take care of some things,” it felt good to honest without disclosing how crippled the situations was. I needed to release my tears and I really needed a reassuring hug from my husband. Fixated on these the rest of the conversation remains a blur.

The next day I got the call, “You have to come back.”

Within the hour I booked flights for the kids and I, hurried back to the ranch and shuffled our belongings into one suitcase and hit the road. When you’re already living out of suitcases, packing is significantly simplified.

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I’m Julie and I’m glad you stopped by!

Welcome Friend! No matter how hard we try struggle is an inescapable part of life. I've experienced my fair share and learned something invaluable I'd love to share with you. Will you join me in learning how to live holy and fully?